Holiday Volunteer Opportunities

Kids Korps USA is your resource for holiday volunteer projects! Visit our website to read about upcoming holiday projects and to download our NEW Kids Korps Holiday Volunteer Guide 2011. Feel free to contact the Kids Korps office for more information! 760-452-2676.

Kids Korps  Award  (age up to  14)-25hr. and more              

Valerie Arnett, Kiana Aryan, Delara Aryan, Hunter Asmann, Donna Ball, Noah Bayindirli, Matthew Burdick, Christopher Burdick, Calvin Campbell, Erin Champ, Benton Christopher, Annabella Christopher, Kaia Colban, Sean Colford, Arriana Daniels, Madeline DeVilbiss, Danny DeVilbiss, Dylan Dorny, Elle Dorny, Jaxson Dorny, Kaelie Drago, Stacy Eang, Jordyn Ecoff, Ethan Epstein, Justin Foster, Amanda Foster, Emily Fuller, Andrea Georgiades, Brenna Goethals, Gianna Giacalone, Alexis Galloway, Olivia Hamrick, Jack Hargis, Tyler Hoellwarth, Ariana Johnson, Jasmine King, Adam Knees, Ryan Knees, Lindsay Kroner, Robert Kwiatkowski, Katie Lambert, Grace Lee, Laurence Li, Hannah Lichtenberger, Lauren Lichtenberger, Annette Logan, Harrison Logan, Weston Lowe, Nicolas Macaluso, Maximilian Macaluso, Baylee McGuire, Nicholas Miller, Matthew Miller, Alexa Mikalaski, Eva Newby, An-Dinh Ngo, Thao Nguyen, Nicole Oberman, Danielle Parisi, Tulsi Patel, Ryan Pifer, Anthony Piglovski, Amanda Pignone, Ashley Pignone, Audrey Ponder, Reid Ponder, Wren Ponder, Brianna Quaranta, Rama Rayana, Taimur Rehan, Hunter Reinseth, Ryan Rosenfield, Kendra Sales, Lucas Savoy, Alexandra Scafidi, Olivia Scafidi, Evan Schlusselberg, Rachel Schlusselberg,  Tasha Stephens, Dyess Verfurth, Porter Verfurth, Tyler Vitale, Hudson Weeks, Harper Weeks, Rachel Weir, Savannah Welton, Noah Wiley, Ryan Yates, Emily Zhu

Teen Korps Award (ages 14-25) -50hr. and more                 

Coleman Baker, Brit Bestow, Ellie Beniston, Julie Biernacki, Danielle Bradley, Alex Burdick, Jen Campbell, Jacob Castanho, Kate Chamberlain, Tony Chen, Kaleigh Colford, Andy Eang, Keirnan Emkjer, Teagan Emkjer, Jay Fleming, Anthony Georgiades, Ashley Howard, Erica Lee, Valerie Lowe, McLaren Martin, Joe Matten, Mark Matten, Michelle Oberman, Kiernan Panish, John Patek, Ryan Preiss, Scott Skinner, Benjamin Statz, Erika Symczak, Spencer Wong, Gordon Yee, Hayley Zech

Adults- Kids Korps Award- 75hr. and more            

Natalie Arnett, Lisa Aryan, Diana Burdick, Andrea Carrier, Deb Chapparone, Dana Knees, Liz Lichtenberger, Teresa Miller, Kim Pavel, Lori Vitale.

Dear Current & Prospective Kids Korps & Teen Korps Members,

In this time of economic uncertainty, there is one thing we can be sure of: that volunteerism, whatever form it takes, truly does make a difference — in our communities, in our schools, and in ourselves. That is why we encourage you to renew your Kids Korps membership for the 2011-2012 year.

There is no more important time to help others in need. Thousands of people from all walks of life all across San Diego County are being impacted by the economic downturn.

Through their volunteer efforts, Kids Korps members and their families are at the forefront of helping these people weather the difficult times. Each year, more than 100,000 people from 350 nonprofit agencies all across San Diego County benefit from Kids Korps volunteer service projects.

Your membership is a vital link to more than 1,200 service projects each year. It is an opportunity for our young people to help those less fortunate, and at the same time, learn valuable and lifelong lessons in compassion, leadership and responsibility.

You can easily renew your membership online at www.kidskorps.org. Feel free to contact the office at (760) 452-2676 with any questions you might have.

Please remember to check your volunteer hours for accuracy and update any new independent volunteer hours on your profile by August 31. Hours entered after this day will not be counted toward awards for the 2010-11 year.

Please do not create a new account. If you do not remember your password or user name, please call 760-452-2676 x100 or email Margaret at margaret@kidskorps.org.

We look forward to your continued involvement in Kids Korps!

Best wishes,

Robin Chappelow
Program Director
robin@kidskorps.org
760-452-2676 x102

YOUR ANNUAL KIDS KORPS MEMBERSHIP IS VALID FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM 09/01/2011  to 08/31/2012

Fast Facts

• Youth volunteering is up 12% over the last 10 years. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute Annual Freshmen Survey, 1999)
• 73% of America’s 60 million young people believe they can make a difference in their communities. (Do Something Young People’s Involvement Survey /Princeton Survey Research, 1998)
• Teenagers volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996) •    Teenage service is worth $34.3 billion to the US economy. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1999 value of service)
• Youth who volunteer just one hour a week are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or engage in destructive behavior. (Search Institute, 1995)
• Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote, and be philanthropic. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute, 1991)

Number of Youth Volunteering

• Out of 13.3 million youth, 59.3% volunteer an average of 3.5 hours per week, versus 49% of the adult population volunteering an average of 4.2 hours. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)
• 74.2% of high school seniors volunteered in 1998. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute Annual Freshmen Survey, 1999)
• 70% of young people ages 15-21 have participated in activities to help strengthen their community at some point in their lives. (Do Something/Princeton Survey Research, 1998

Dismal Facts

• Only 37% of American adults believe today’s children, once grown, will make the world a better place. (Public Agenda Survey for the Ad Council and Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1997)
• 61% of American adults are convinced that today’s youth face a crisis in their values and morals, look at teenagers with misgiving, and view them as undisciplined, disrespectful, and unfriendly. (Public Agenda Survey for the Ad Council and Ronald McDonald House Charities, 1997)
• Only 20% of young people perceive that adults in the community value youth. (Search Institute Survey of Youth 6th to 12th Graders, 1997)

The Impact of Youth Service

• The value of service carried out on National Youth Service Day exceeds $171 million. (Youth Service America estimates based on Independent Sector value of service, 1999)
• Youth who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer as adults. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)
• Teens say the benefits received from volunteering are: Learning to respect others; learning to be helpful and kind; learning to understand people who are different from them; developing leadership skills, becoming more patient, and better understanding of good citizenship. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)

Reasons Youth Volunteer

Major reasons cited by teens for volunteering: Youth feel compassion for people in need; they can do something for a cause in which they believe; they believe that if they help others, others will help them. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)

Teens rank volunteering, the environment, and eating healthy, as top three activities they consider ‘cool’. (Teenage Marketing and Lifestyle Study, 1998)

73% of young people think their efforts can have a positive impact on their communities. (Do Something Young People’s Involvement Survey /Princeton Survey Research, 1998)

Six Proven Ways to Increase Teen Volunteering

1. Ask them to volunteer;
2. Encourage youth to get involved in volunteering at an early age;
3. Encourage children and young adults to participate in community groups, faith-based
   organizations, student government, and school projects;
4. Encourage a positive self-image so that young people are able to help others and
   contribute to their communities;
5. Be a mentor in your community;
6. Provide young people with opportunities to take courses that include and even
   require community service. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)

Sycamore Ridge Kids Korps Chapter

The Sycamore Ridge Kids Korps chapter hosted a holiday party at the Family Recovery Center
in Oceanside in December. The Family Recovery Center supports women and families in treatment, helping them to recovery from various abuse and addiction issues. The Sycamore Ridge Chapter interacted with the residents and families to make Christmas ornaments, decorate holiday cookies, and start the holiday season on an uplifting note. The next Sycamore Ridge Chapter project will be making and serving dinner for the homeless at Bread of Life in Oceanside on January 8th.